Macallan whiskey: which bottles to know in Westford

Macallan is a single malt Scotch whisky from Speyside, known for ageing in sherry-seasoned oak casks. We carry Macallan at CBC Liquors on Littleton Rd in Westford, and this guide covers how the main bottles differ, what the age numbers mean and how to pick one up.

What is Macallan whiskey?

Macallan is a single malt Scotch whisky. Single malt means it is made at one distillery from malted barley, and Scotch means it is made and matured in Scotland, in barrels, for at least three years. Macallan comes from the Speyside region, which is generally associated with fruit, honey and spice rather than heavy smoke.

The distillery is best known for maturing its whisky in oak casks that previously held sherry. Those casks give the spirit its colour and much of its flavour: dried fruit, orange peel, vanilla, ginger and a warm oak finish are the notes people usually describe.

Spelling trips people up. Scotch is spelled whisky, American and Irish bottles are usually whiskey, and plenty of shoppers type it either way. If you are browsing our Scotch shelf, you will find Macallan sitting among other single malts from Scotland.

Which Macallan bottles do we carry?

Our Macallan range runs from the 12 year old expressions up to the 18 year. The MACALLAN 12 Year Double Cask and the MACALLAN 12 Year Sherry Oak are the two most common starting points, and they are different whiskies even though they share an age.

For an older pour there is the MACALLAN 15 Year Double Cask and the MACALLAN 18 Year Sherry Oak. If you want something stronger, the MACALLAN 110 Proof 12 Year Sherry is bottled at higher strength than the standard range. The MACALLAN Harmony Collection is a series of special releases from the distillery.

The best way to see what is on the shelf today is the Macallan brand page, or to ask at the counter. Our stock moves, so a quick look before you drive over saves a trip.

What is the difference between Double Cask and Sherry Oak?

Both are 12 year old Macallan, but the casks differ. Sherry Oak is matured in oak seasoned with sherry, in the traditional Macallan manner, and it leans toward dried fruit, spice and richer, deeper sherry character.

Double Cask combines whisky matured in sherry-seasoned American oak and sherry-seasoned European oak. American oak tends to contribute vanilla and a sweeter, lighter note, while European oak adds spice and depth. The result is usually described as softer and a little brighter than Sherry Oak.

If you are choosing for yourself and are not sure, a rough guide: pick Double Cask if you like a smooth, gently sweet dram, and Sherry Oak if you like a fuller, spicier one. Both are good for a first single malt, and both are straightforward to pour without a lot of ceremony.

What do 12, 15 and 18 year mean?

The number on a Scotch bottle is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle. A 12 year contains whisky that spent at least twelve years in cask, and it may include older whisky too. Ageing only counts time in the barrel, not time in the bottle, so a bottle does not keep getting older once it is filled.

Older is not automatically better, it is different. Extra years in oak generally bring more wood influence, more dried fruit and spice, and a rounder, slower finish. Younger whisky tends to be livelier and more grain and fruit forward. Some people prefer the 12 for exactly that reason.

The jump from 12 to 15 to 18 is also a jump in how much whisky is lost to evaporation over the years, which is part of why older bottles are scarcer. That is general background, not something specific to our shelf, but it helps explain why the older expressions are treated as special-occasion bottles.

How should you drink Macallan?

Neat is the usual way, in a small glass with a little room above the whisky so you can smell it. Pour a modest measure and give it a minute before the first sip. Sherry-cask whisky often opens up as it sits.

A few drops of room-temperature water is the other common choice. It loosens the spirit and can bring out sweeter, fruitier notes, particularly in the higher-strength bottles. Ice is a matter of taste: it chills the whisky and mutes aroma, so many people skip it with an older expression.

Macallan is poured for sipping and food pairs well with it in a quiet way: dark chocolate, roasted nuts, aged cheese and dried fruit are all classic partners. It is a whisky for slowing down, and it is meant for adults aged 21 and over, enjoyed responsibly.

What does 110 proof mean on a Macallan bottle?

Proof is a measure of alcohol strength. In the United States, proof is double the alcohol by volume, so 110 proof is 55 percent alcohol. Most Macallan bottles on a shelf are bottled at a lower strength, so the 110 proof 12 year sherry is noticeably more intense.

Higher strength carries more flavour per sip, which is the appeal. It also reads hotter on the nose and palate, so people often add a little water to settle it. Start with a few drops and taste as you go.

This is the bottle to look at if you already know the standard 12 year and want to see what the same style tastes like with more power behind it. If you are buying a first Macallan, the standard-strength 12 year expressions are the gentler place to begin.

Can you pick up or get Macallan delivered from Westford?

You can walk in to CBC Liquors at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford. We are open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs on the same hours.

We also offer delivery, with delivery hours of Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. We serve towns around Westford including Chelmsford, Lowell, Carlisle, Littleton, Acton, Tyngsborough, Billerica, Boxborough and Dunstable. The delivery areas page lists every town.

Shipping is available as well, and the details sit on the shipping policy page. Anyone receiving alcohol needs to be 21 or older with valid ID.

What should you try if you like Macallan?

If the sherry-cask style appeals, the rest of our whiskey section is worth a look: other Scotch single malts, Irish whiskey, rye and bourbon each take a different route to richness. Bourbon in particular shares the vanilla and caramel notes that American oak gives Double Cask.

If you are buying for someone else and unsure which expression to choose, our gift cards let them pick their own. We would rather you leave with the bottle you will enjoy than the one with the biggest number on the label.

Staff at the shop can talk you through the differences between the bottles in person. Tell us what you usually drink and we will point you to the closest Macallan.